Prisoner Poetry

Our newsletter, published three times a year, includes a popular poetry page. Unfortunately we do not have room to publish all of the many poems we are sent, and it is always a difficult job trying to decide what to include. This page showcases a wide variety of style and subject matter, all of it to an exceptionally high standard. We hope you enjoy these poems.

Examining Problems by JM, Ireland
Thoughts from a single cell by PW, South Africa
Love and Destiny by KDC, Georgia, USA
The Capsules by AB, Ireland
Why Danny Never Went Home When He Should've by SB, Japan
I'm All Alone by JSP, UK (wife of a prisoner in the USA)

If you would like to re-print any of the work shown here please contact info@prisonersabroad.org.uk

Examining Problems

Suppose you had to demolish a city
close and clearly impregnable
with high walls and smiling distant visors...

Well once before a time
(This is a true story!)
there was one man
and his pitiful army
(The laughter echoed from tower to scornful tower!)
who had a pet mouse.

Encamped, he surveyed the legth and breadth of his problem.
And that very night
with the mouse warm in his tunic
crwaled to the massive main gate
left his friend there
and crawled back to his tent to bed.
He settled down for a long siege
the mouse for a long chew.

At each new dawn
the spears pointed in shaking derision
at the patient tents hopelessly camped on
the sandy plain below.

Eventually
one night
many months later
a thin figure crawled to the gate again
pocketed his chubby friend
and fixed a hook to the hole

By sunrise the gate
and then the city fell.

Everything has humble beginnings
the first step in surmounting the insurmountable
seems hard and ineffectual, perservering impossible.
However...

JM, Ireland

Thoughts from a single cell

There is no fire within my soul
The lights of life are gone
No more desires to dream of now
I truly am alone
I've had my quest for adventure
My dreams both won and lost
This jail that binds me helpless
A life returned to dust

Take my soul, curse my name
Hate me all you will
I care not for your thoughts inside this hell
Your justice is a bitter pill
Broken now bereft of hope
Precious time unwisely used
Lament the past it's all I have
Locked away I'm so confused

Lifeless thoughts consume me
I dread to think my fate
Like those who now surround me
I'm learning how to hate
Scared to die no will to live
Death can come I've run this race
Silent wings to collect my soul
Take me home to God's embrace.

PW, South Africa

Love and Destiny

For true destiny
In one's life
True love will intertwine
Two hearts, two souls
Into one heart
One soul
As one
This I believe
Is the
True meaning
Of true love
One's
Destiny...

KDC, Georgia, USA

The Capsules

Mummified while waiting
Can do or kill time...
Incapable of creating
An asking and marking time.

Forlorn muffled voices
Whisper of sundial time...
Without any choices
On changing and beating time.

Forgotten tranquil histories
Think and walk away time...
Today's enigmatic mysteries
Are reading and singing time.

Regrets each day
Sigh and cry at time...
Must find a way
Planning and listening to time.

Rainbows come and tomorrow
Afraid to leave time...
Amid such sorrow
It's defeating or repeating time.

AB, Ireland

Why Danny Never Went Home When He Should've

Danny done three years then complained he was cold
The rule was no talking so they threw him in the hole
Gave him a warning: you'll lose your parole

Dean done eight years then gave in to his rage
The rule was no fighting so they searched his cage
Found a porno with Danny's number on the first page

(Well it weren't a porno, Just Danny's FHM
The Sexiest Women for the loneliest men
Dean was meant to flush it long before then)

Danny got thrown straight back in the hole
The rule was no sharing so he lost his parole
We're all still here and we're all still cold.

SB, Japan

I'm All Alone

I'm all alone and everyone's gone
But I don't know what I did wrong.
I'm all alone; I'm in 'The Shoe'
With absolutely nothing to do.

I'm all alone I can't see out
I don't understand what this is about.
I'm all alone, no idea of time,
Without my watch or anything of mine.

I'm all alone, my cell is cold
My blanket over my shoulders I hold.
I'm all alone, no towel, but a basin
Only cold water for washing my face in.

I'm all alone, no sight, no sound
Until the guards make their regular rounds.
I'm all alone with lights a blazing
This type of cruelty is quite amazing.

I'm all alone in an orange jump suit
And orange plimsolls instead of black boots
I'm all alone, no pillow for my bed
Nowhere comfy to rest my head.

I'm all alone, Philip and Barry will wonder
In what conditions I'm being held under.
I'm all alone, will I lose my cube?
I'm entirely dependent on the guard's mood.

I'm all alone, food pushed through a slot
As if they've left me here to rot.
I'm all alone until the guards come
To snap on the handcuffs and hold my arm.

I'm all alone, at their convenience
They're not going to show me any lenience.
I'm all alone; I know my family are here
But they'll take their time to escort me there.

I'm all alone, for declining medical tests
Because my family were visiting guests.
I'm all alone for doing nothing wrong
They'll keep me here for who knows how long?

JSP, UK (wife of a prisoner in the USA)

Copyright of all material on this page remains with Prisoners Abroad and/or the original author. If you would like to re-print any of the work shown here please contact info@prisonersabroad.org.uk